Izien Ovbiagele is a Nigerian and Filipino Toronto-based interdisciplinary artist, photographer, poet and contributing writer. Inspired by nature, black culture, and vibrant palettes, Izien’s work exemplifies urban resilience, uninhibited joy and pride through visual imagery and prose-poetry. She attributes the cultivation of her artistic expression drawing inspiration from growing up in Houston, Texas.
In 2017, Izien received the MVP recognition in the film program at UforChange, followed by her acceptance into the Arts Educator Apprenticeship with Voice of Purpose x the Toronto District School Board. Her poetry has been featured in ‘Lost In Translation’ at Artscape Youngplace, ‘Ain’t I A Woman - I Am A Man’ exhibit at the Design Exchange, Easy Period, Emancipation Arts ‘Free Up’ event at The Theatre Centre, Regent Park Newsletter and Lakeshore Arts.
She joined the 2021 Young Playwright’s Unit Extended Cohort, at Tarragon Theatre. Izien, a Toronto Metropolitan University alumna, went back to academia in 2018 and is pursuing an Honours degree in Language and Intercultural Relations at TMU, where she is set to graduate in the Fall.